Scrawled bomb threat at school leads to probe

September 25, 2008

Police and school administrators were investigating after a bomb threat was found written on the wall of a bathroom at McHenry West High School this morning.A search of lockers and common areas after the threat was found found nothing suspicious, said McHenry High School District 156 Supt. Teresa Lane.

The threat, which was discovered at about 7:45 a.m., had no specifics, just that there was a bomb, she said.

Officials immediately called police and put the school, 4724 W. Crystal Lake Rd., on lockdown. It's 1,500 students were kept in their classrooms.

Lane said officials hope to identify the person who left the threat on footage from security cameras in the vicinity of the bathroom.

"The big part of the investigation is trying to narrow down the time frame," Lane said.

There was a bomb threat at McHenry East High two weeks ago. Administrators do not believe the two incidents are linked.

As of about 2:30 p.m. things at the west campus were nearly back to normal.

"Well, it's homecoming week," Lane said. "It's as normal as it can be."